FULLERTON — The Fullerton baseball team clinched its third Freeway League title in a row with a 6-3 victory over Buena Park on Tuesday.
Miguel Velazquez went 3 for 4 with two home runs, a double, three RBIs and three runs scored and pitcher Eddie Acitia went the distance to improve his record to 5-0.
Some thought this would be a rebuilding year for Fullerton, according to coach Shaun Hill, who has guided the Indians to a league title in each of his three seasons at the school.
“It’s a team effort,” Hill said. “Every guy on the bench, seniors, pinch hitters, pinch runners, guys out of the bullpen. Everyone knew their role. It’s been amazing to see.”
Buena Park (20-6, 5-4) and the Indians (18-8-1, 7-2), who are ranked No. 20 in Orange County, will play again Thursday in the final game of the regular season.
Fullerton’s Miguel Velazquez is met by his celebrating teammates as he returns to the dugout after hitting his his second home run of game in a 6-3 victory over Buena Park on Tuesday, April 23. (Photo by Lou Ponsi)
The Coyotes are in a tie for second place with La Habra (19-8, 5-4), and Sunny Hills (10-12-2, 4-5) and Sonora (10-16,4-5) are tied for third.
The top three finishers in the six-team league receive an automatic berth in the CIF-SS playoffs. It is possible for the Coyotes, Highlanders, Lancers and Raiders to all finish 5-5 for a four-way tie for second.
Buena Park led 2-1 Tuesday when Velazquez, a Cal State Fullerton signee, led off the third with a home run to tie the score.
In the fourth, pinch runner Nick Galindo scored from third on an error to give the Coyotes a 3-2 lead.
Zach Fanny then singled to lead off the bottom of the inning for Fullerton and Velazquez followed with his second home run of the game, a two-run shot that gave the Indians a 4-3 lead.
Velazquez came close to hitting his third home run in the sixth but had to settle for a double off the batter’s eye in center field.
Malachi Meni then singled home Velazquez to give the Indians a 5-3 lead and Wayne Warden singled in Meni later in the inning to give the Indians a three-run cushion.
After the Coyotes scored their third run, Acitia retired 10 of the final 11 hitters he faced and retired the side in order in the fifth and seventh innings.
Fullerton’s Miguel Velazquez went 3 for 4 with a pair of home runs, a double, three RBIs and two runs scored in a 6-3 victory over Buena Park on Tuesday, April 23. (Photo by Lou Ponsi)
Velazquez was happy to bounce back from his previous week’s performance when he went 1 for 8 over two games.
“I just wanted to help the team out,” Velazquez said. “I bounced back from last week. I didn’t do my best.”
Velazquez leads the Coyotes in home runs (four), doubles (eight), runs (26), RBIs (24) and stolen bases.
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